Crystal structure and magnetic behavior of the La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 compound

The nano-crystalline La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 compound was successfully synthesized by starch-based combustion method. The crystal structure and magnetic behavior were studied by temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and magnetic measurements. The La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 compounds crystallized in a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure with space group R3c. The substitution of La for Bi reduced the rhombohedral distortion. The structural phase transitions in La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 driven by temperature showed that the extraordinary two-phase coexistence state of BiFeO3 and LaFeO3 was observed in a narrow temperature range of 630–700 °C. The magnetization of the La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 sample was improved by heat treatment in the temperature range. When the heat treatment temperatures rose from 25 to 600 °C, the remanence (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) of the La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 compound almost remained the same, and increased rapidly to 0.134 emu/g and 7.1 KOe on further increasing the heat treatment temperature to 650 °C.

Graphical AbstractXRD pattern of the nano-crystalline La0.1Bi0.9FeO3 compound at room temperature (Crosses are experimental data, lines are calculated ones. Bragg positions are indicated by vertical ticks. The insets show component evolution of the structural peaks specific for different compounds)Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide